No joke: Hootie & the Blowfish, 'Weird Al' announced as first Minnesota State Fair concerts of 2019

The Minnesota State Fair announced its first two grandstand concerts for 2019 on Monday, but they might be mistaken for shows from 25 years ago.

Hootie & the Blowfish will return to the grandstand on Thursday, Aug. 22, as part of their first tour in over a decade. In that time, frontman Darius Rucker carved out an admirable solo career as a Nashville-brand country singer, but he apparently got the itch to record again with his old band. They’ll be touting a new album on their coyly titled Group Therapy Tour, featuring fellow ‘90s hitmakers the Barenaked Ladies as openers. Ticket go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. for $51-$90.

“Weird Al” Yankovic, who has played the fair grandstand a weirdly high number of times already, is also coming back on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Lest you still think he’s just a funnyman, the accordion-squeezing, multi-faceted musician is getting rather serious this time out and performing with a full orchestra on his Strings Attached Tour; because you haven’t really heard “Eat It,” “Smells Like Nirvana” or “Amish Paradise” until you’ve heard them with elaborate orchestral arrangements. Those tickets will all be $31 starting at noon Friday.

Both shows will go on sale via etix.com or by calling 800-514-3849. In addition, tickets may be purchased at the State Fairgrounds Ticket Office during a limited-time opening from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7.